U.S. patent application number 13/600960 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-07 for media sharing apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. The applicant listed for this patent is Jae-Doo HUH, Hyun-Jeong LEE. Invention is credited to Jae-Doo HUH, Hyun-Jeong LEE.
Application Number | 20130061270 13/600960 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47754182 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130061270 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Hyun-Jeong ; et
al. |
March 7, 2013 |
MEDIA SHARING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
The media sharing apparatus includes a terminal information
management unit for, when a media playing terminal is connected
thereto, requesting profile information from the connected media
playing terminal and managing profile information received from the
media playing terminal. A media information management unit
determines based on the profile information whether to convert
media data to be provided to the media playing terminal, and
ascertains media conversion information suitable for a type of the
media playing terminal. A media conversion unit converts the media
data into data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal
depending on a result of the determination. A data processing unit
provides either media data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal among pieces of pre-stored media data, or media
data converted by the media conversion unit, to the media playing
terminal.
Inventors: |
LEE; Hyun-Jeong; (Daejeon,
KR) ; HUH; Jae-Doo; (Daejeon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LEE; Hyun-Jeong
HUH; Jae-Doo |
Daejeon
Daejeon |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Electronics and Telecommunications
Research Institute
Daejeon-city
KR
|
Family ID: |
47754182 |
Appl. No.: |
13/600960 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/2662 20130101;
H04N 21/6582 20130101; H04N 21/25833 20130101; H04N 21/25825
20130101; H04N 21/234354 20130101; H04N 21/234363 20130101; H04N
21/234309 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/62 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/61 20110101
H04N021/61 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 2, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0089152 |
Dec 15, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0135847 |
Claims
1. A media sharing apparatus comprising: a terminal information
management unit for, when a media playing terminal is connected
thereto, requesting profile information from the connected media
playing terminal and managing profile information received from the
media playing terminal; a media information management unit for
determining whether to convert media data to be provided to the
media playing terminal based on the profile information of the
media playing terminal, and ascertaining media conversion
information suitable for a type of the media playing terminal; a
media conversion unit for converting the media data into data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal depending on a
result of the determination by the media information management
unit; and a data processing unit for providing either media data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal among pieces of
pre-stored media data, or media data converted by the media
conversion unit, to the media playing terminal.
2. The media sharing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media
information management unit is configured to, if it is determined
that the media data to be provided to the media playing terminal
requires data conversion, perform a search to determine whether the
media data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal or
source media data is present among the pieces of pre-stored media
data.
3. The media sharing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data
processing unit is configured to, if neither media data suitable
for the type of the media playing terminal nor source media data is
present among the pieces of pre-stored media data, request media
data from a service providing server that provides a media data
service.
4. The media sharing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media
information management unit verifies whether the media data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal is of a type
that is convertible by the media sharing apparatus.
5. The media sharing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the data
processing unit is configured to, if it is verified by the media
information management unit that the media data suitable for the
type of the media playing terminal is not of the type that is
convertible by the media sharing apparatus, generate a media
transmission denial message and send the media transmission denial
message to the media playing terminal.
6. The media sharing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data
processing unit is configured to, if it is determined by the media
information management unit that the media data to be provided to
the media playing terminal does not require data conversion,
provide information of a service providing server that provides a
media data service to the media playing terminal.
7. The media sharing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile
information comprises at least one of screen size information of
the media playing terminal, network information such as a bandwidth
and a protocol of the media playing terminal, video information,
audio information, and file format and resolution information of
the media data.
8. A media sharing method comprising: requesting profile
information from the connected media playing terminal in response
to a connection of a media playing terminal; determining whether to
convert media data based on the profile information of the media
playing terminal, and ascertaining media conversion information
suitable for a type of the media playing terminal if conversion of
the media data is required; and providing either media data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal among pieces of
pre-stored media data, or media data converted into a type of data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal to the media
playing terminal based on the media conversion information.
9. The media sharing method of claim 8, further comprising
performing a search to determine whether the media data suitable
for the type of the media playing terminal or source media data is
present among the pieces of pre-stored media data, based on the
media conversion information at the ascertaining the media
conversion information.
10. The media sharing method of claim 9, further comprising, if
neither media data suitable for the type of the media playing
terminal nor source media data is present among the pieces of
pre-stored media data, requesting media data from a service
providing server that provides a media data service.
11. The media sharing method of claim 8, further comprising
converting at least one of the pre-stored media data and media data
provided by a service providing server that provides a media data
service into a type of data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal, based on the media conversion information at the
ascertaining the media conversion information.
12. The media sharing method of claim 8, wherein the ascertaining
the media conversion information comprises verifying whether the
media data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal is
of a type that is convertible by a relevant media sharing
apparatus.
13. The media sharing method of claim 12, further comprising, if it
is verified that the media data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal is not of the type that is convertible by the
media sharing apparatus, generating a media transmission denial
message and sending the media transmission denial message to the
media playing terminal.
14. The media sharing method of claim 8, further comprising before
the providing the media data, if it is determined that the media
data to be provided to the media playing terminal does not require
data conversion, providing information of a service providing
server that provides a media data service to the media playing
terminal.
15. The media sharing method of claim 8, wherein the profile
information comprises at least one of screen size information of
the media playing terminal, network information such as a bandwidth
and a protocol of the media playing terminal, video information,
audio information, and file format and resolution information of
the media data.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application Nos. 10-2011-0089152, filed on Sep. 2, 2011 and
10-2011-0135847, filed on Dec. 15, 2011, which are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety into this
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a media sharing
apparatus and method and, more particularly, to a media sharing
apparatus and method, which enable previously converted media to be
shared among homogeneous terminals when converting the attributes
of media, such as a file format, a video codec, or an audio codec,
to fit the characteristics of a media playing terminal.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Recently, with the remarkable development of mobile
terminals, a variety of mobile terminals have appeared and been
used. Due to the appearance of the iPhone, the field of the mobile
terminal has entered a new phase.
[0006] However, this variety of mobile terminals all have different
hardware qualities such as size, resolution, and the color level of
the screens mounted thereon and computer system abilities, and
different software characteristics such as supported codecs and
installed media players, so that media compatibility between
terminals is very low.
[0007] In this situation, there frequently occurs the case of media
not being played because a terminal does not support a codec when a
user utilizes media. That is, due to the hardware and software
characteristics of respective mobile terminals and the
characteristics of players or the like installed on the mobile
terminals, the type of a supported codec differs, and then each
terminal does not support the playing of all types of media.
[0008] For example, there occurs the case where videos playable on
mobile terminals that use Microsoft's Windows mobile Operating
System (OS) cannot be played on Apple iPhone terminals. In this
case, when the playing of videos is attempted, a message indicative
of "unsupported codec" may be displayed. Some codecs may be
downloaded over the Internet and then installed, but some codecs
may not even be supported.
[0009] To cope with this situation, a media conversion method is
required and, in particular, a method of sharing media among
homogeneous terminals has been required so as to improve the
efficiency of media conversion and increase the use rate of a
Central Processing Unit (CPU).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object
of the present invention is to provide a media sharing apparatus
and method, which enable previously converted media to be shared
among homogeneous terminals when converting the attributes of
media, such as a file format, a video codec, or an audio codec, to
fit the characteristics of a media playing terminal, thus
optimizing the conversion efficiency and use rate of media
data.
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention to
accomplish the above object, there is provided a media sharing
apparatus including a terminal information management unit for,
when a media playing terminal is connected thereto, requesting
profile information from the connected media playing terminal and
managing profile information received from the media playing
terminal, a media information management unit for determining based
on the profile information of the media playing terminal whether to
convert media data to be provided to the media playing terminal,
and ascertaining media conversion information suitable for a type
of the media playing terminal, a media conversion unit for
converting the media data into data suitable for the type of the
media playing terminal depending on a result of the determination
by the media information management unit, and a data processing
unit for providing either media data suitable for the type of the
media playing terminal among pieces of pre-stored media data, or
media data converted by the media conversion unit, to the media
playing terminal.
[0012] Preferably, the media information management unit may be
configured to, if it is determined that the media data to be
provided to the media playing terminal requires data conversion,
perform a search to determine based on the media conversion
information whether the media data suitable for the type of the
media playing terminal or source media data is present among the
pieces of pre-stored media data.
[0013] Preferably, the data processing unit may be configured to,
if neither media data suitable for the type of the media playing
terminal nor source media data is present among the pieces of
pre-stored media data, request media data from a service providing
server that provides a media data service.
[0014] Preferably, the media information management unit may verify
whether the media data suitable for the type of the media playing
terminal is of a type that is convertible by the media sharing
apparatus.
[0015] Preferably, the data processing unit may be configured to,
if it is verified by the media information management unit that the
media data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal is
not of the type that is convertible by the media sharing apparatus,
generate a media transmission denial message and send the media
transmission denial message to the media playing terminal.
[0016] Preferably, the data processing unit may be configured to,
if it is determined by the media information management unit that
the media data to be provided to the media playing terminal does
not require data conversion, provide information of a service
providing server that provides a media data service to the media
playing terminal.
[0017] Preferably, the profile information may include at least one
of screen size information of the media playing terminal, network
information such as a bandwidth and a protocol of the media playing
terminal, video information, audio information, and file format and
resolution information of the media data.
[0018] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention to
accomplish the above object, there is provided a media sharing
method including, when a media playing terminal is connected,
requesting profile information from the connected media playing
terminal, determining based on the profile information of the media
playing terminal whether to convert media data, and ascertaining
media conversion information suitable for a type of the media
playing terminal if conversion of the media data is required, and
providing, based on the media conversion information, either media
data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal among
pieces of pre-stored media data, or media data converted into a
type of data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal,
to the media playing terminal.
[0019] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include
performing a search to determine whether the media data suitable
for the type of the media playing terminal or source media data is
present among the pieces of pre-stored media data, based on the
media conversion information at the ascertaining the media
conversion information.
[0020] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include, if
media data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal is
not present among the pieces of pre-stored media data, but
conversion of media data suitable for the media playing terminal is
possible, verifying whether source media data is present.
[0021] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include, if
it is verified that the source media data is not present,
requesting source media data from a service providing server that
provides a media data. Thereafter, media conversion for the media
playing terminal is performed.
[0022] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include, if
the pre-stored source media data is present, converting the source
media data into data suitable for the media playing terminal.
[0023] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include
converting at least one of the pre-stored media data and media data
provided by a service providing server that provides a media data
service into a type of data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal, based on the media conversion information at the
ascertaining the media conversion information.
[0024] Preferably, the ascertaining the media conversion
information may include verifying whether the media data suitable
for the type of the media playing terminal is of a type that is
convertible by a relevant media sharing apparatus.
[0025] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include, if
it is verified that the media data suitable for the type of the
media playing terminal is not of the type that is convertible by
the media sharing apparatus, generating a media transmission denial
message and sending the media transmission denial message to the
media playing terminal.
[0026] Preferably, the media sharing method may further include
before the providing the media data, if it is determined that the
media data to be provided to the media playing terminal does not
require data conversion, providing information of a service
providing server that provides a media data service to the media
playing terminal.
[0027] Preferably, the profile information may include at least one
of screen size information of the media playing terminal, network
information such as a bandwidth and a protocol of the media playing
terminal, video information, audio information, and file format and
resolution information of the media data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system to
which a media sharing apparatus according to the present invention
is applied;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the
media sharing apparatus according to the present invention; and
[0031] FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts showing the operating flow of a
media sharing method according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the attached drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system to
which a media sharing apparatus according to the present invention
is applied.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the system to which the media sharing
apparatus according to the present invention includes a media
playing terminal 100, a service providing server 300, and a media
sharing apparatus 200.
[0035] The media playing terminal 100 accesses the media sharing
apparatus 200, requests media data from the media sharing apparatus
200, and plays the media data shared by the media sharing apparatus
200. All terminals provided with a media player may correspond to
the media playing terminal 100.
[0036] When the media playing terminal 100 is a terminal that does
not require the conversion of media data, the media playing
terminal 100 may access the service providing server 300 that
provides a media data service and then be directly provided with
media data.
[0037] The media sharing apparatus 200 is an agent device disposed
between the media playing terminal 100 and a service terminal for
providing a media data service and configured to provide converted
media data to the media playing terminal 100 that requires the
conversion of media data.
[0038] The media sharing apparatus 200 may share and store media
data suitable for the type of a relevant media playing terminal
100, among pieces of pre-stored media data, at the request of the
media playing terminal 100, or may be provided with media data from
the service providing server 300, convert the media data into data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal 100 and provide
the converted data as media data.
[0039] In this case, the media sharing apparatus 200 requests
profile information from the media playing terminal 100 when the
media playing terminal 100 is connected thereto, and ascertains the
type of media data suitable for the type of the relevant media
playing terminal 100 on the basis of received profile
information.
[0040] In relation to this operation, the detailed configuration of
the media sharing apparatus 200 will be described with reference to
FIG. 2.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the
media sharing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, a media sharing apparatus 200 according
to the present invention includes a control unit 210, a
communication unit 220, a storage unit 230, a terminal information
management unit 240, a media information management unit 250, a
media conversion unit 260, and a data processing unit 270. The
control unit 210 controls the operation of individual units of the
media sharing apparatus 200.
[0043] The communication unit 220 provides a communication
interface for communicating with a media playing terminal and a
service providing server.
[0044] The storage unit 230 stores data set by the media sharing
apparatus 200, and also stores media data or the like converted by
the media sharing apparatus 200. Further, the storage unit 230 may
store the information of a media playing terminal connected to the
media sharing apparatus 200 via the communication unit 220, for
example, the profile information of the media playing terminal.
[0045] The terminal information management unit 240 requests
profile information from a connected media playing terminal when
the media playing terminal is connected via the communication unit
220. Further, the terminal information management unit 240 stores
the profile information, received from the connected media playing
terminal, in the storage unit 230, and manages the stored profile
information.
[0046] Here, the profile information of the media playing terminal
includes information about the hardware and software of the
relevant media playing terminal and an execution engine required to
execute media.
[0047] For example, the profile information of the media playing
terminal may include the screen size information of the media
playing terminal, network information such as the bandwidth and
protocol (for example, a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), a
User Datagram Protocol (UDP), a Real Time Streaming Protocol
(RTSP), a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), etc.) of the media
playing terminal, video and audio information, the file format and
resolution information of input/output media, etc.
[0048] The media information management unit 250 determines whether
to convert media data to be provided to the media playing terminal,
based on the profile information of the media playing terminal.
[0049] Further, when a media playing terminal requires the
conversion of media data, the media information management unit 250
ascertains media conversion information suitable for the type of
the media playing terminal on the basis of the profile information
of the media playing terminal. That is, the media information
management unit 250 detects the screen size information, the
network information such as the bandwidth and protocol (TCP, UDP,
RTSP or HTTP), the video and audio information, the file format and
resolution information of input/output media, etc., in the profile
information of the media playing terminal, and then ascertains
media conversion information suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal.
[0050] Meanwhile, the media information management unit 250
verifies based on the media conversion information whether the
media data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal is
of a type that is convertible by the media sharing apparatus
200.
[0051] For example, the media information management unit 250
compares the attribute information of the media playing terminal
with the attribute information of media data that is convertible by
the media sharing apparatus 200 and then verifies whether media
data is convertible into a type of media data that is suitable for
the type of the media playing terminal.
[0052] Attributes such as a bandwidth, frame rate, screen size,
protocol, file format, encoder, decoder, and resolution, are
applied to the rules for comparing pieces of attribute information
of the media playing terminal and media data. In detail, rules for
using a comparison to determine whether media data falls within the
range supported by the media playing terminal are applied to the
bandwidth, frame rate, and screen size among the above attributes.
Rules for using a comparison to determine whether there is an
intersection between the attributes of the media playing terminal
and the media data are applied to the protocol, file format,
encoder, decoder, and resolution among the above attributes.
[0053] In this case, when the media data suitable for the type of
the media playing terminal is of a type that is convertible by the
media sharing apparatus 200, the media information management unit
250 performs a search to determine based on media conversion
information whether media data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal is present in media data pre-stored in the storage
unit 230.
[0054] When the media playing terminal requires the conversion of
media data, the media conversion unit 260 converts the media data
into data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal, on
the basis of media conversion information ascertained by the media
information management unit 250.
[0055] In this case, the media conversion unit 260 converts video
attributes such as the file format, video codec, video mode, video
bit rate, video frame rate, video resolution, and video ratio of
media data, and audio attributes such as the audio codec, audio
sample rate, audio bit rate, and audio channel of the media data
into a type of attributes suitable for the media playing
terminal.
[0056] If media data found by the media information management unit
250 is present, that is, if media data suitable for the type of the
media playing terminal is pre-stored in the media storage unit 230,
the data processing unit 270 provides the relevant media data to
the connected media playing terminal. Therefore, the media sharing
apparatus 200 provides the media data to the media playing terminal
without requiring a separate data conversion procedure, and the
media playing terminal can be provided with the media data within a
short period of time.
[0057] In contrast, if the media data found by the media
information management unit 250 is not present, that is, if media
data suitable for the type of the media playing terminal is not
pre-stored in the storage unit 230, the data processing unit 270
accesses the service providing server which provides the media data
service, and then requests media data from the service providing
server.
[0058] When source media data is present in the storage unit 230,
the data processing unit 270 may call media data stored in the
storage unit 230 and provide the media data to the media conversion
unit 260 without requesting separate media data from the service
providing server.
[0059] In this case, the media conversion unit 260 converts the
media data provided by the service providing server or the source
media data stored in the storage unit 230 into a type of data
suitable for the type of the media playing terminal, on the basis
of the previously ascertained media conversion information.
Further, the data processing unit 270 provides the media data,
which has been converted into the data suitable for the type of the
media playing terminal by the media conversion unit 260, to the
media playing terminal.
[0060] Meanwhile, if it is verified that the media data suitable
for the type of the media playing terminal is not of the type that
is convertible by the media sharing apparatus 200 on the basis of
the media conversion information ascertained by the media
information management unit 250, the data processing unit 270
generates a media transmission denial message and sends it to the
media playing terminal.
[0061] Further, if it is determined by the media information
management unit 250 that media data to be provided to the media
playing terminal does not require data conversion, the data
processing unit 270 provides the information of the service
providing server, which provides the media data service, to the
media playing terminal. Therefore, the media playing terminal may
access the service providing server based on the information of the
service providing server provided by the media sharing apparatus
200, and may then be directly provided with the media data service
from the service providing server.
[0062] FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts showing the operating flow of a
media sharing method according to the present invention.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 3, when a media playing terminal is
connected to the media sharing apparatus at step S100, the media
sharing apparatus requests profile information from the connected
media playing terminal at step S110. Here, the profile information
of the media playing terminal includes at least one of the screen
size information of the media playing terminal, network information
such as the bandwidth and protocol (TCP, UDP, RTSP or HTTP) of the
media playing terminal, video and audio information, and the file
format and resolution information of input/output media.
[0064] Thereafter, when the profile information is input from the
connected media playing terminal at step S120, the media sharing
apparatus checks the type of the media playing terminal based on
the profile information of the media playing terminal at step S130.
In this case, if it is determined at step S140 that the conversion
of media data is not required based on the type of the media
playing terminal checked at step S130, the media sharing apparatus
transmits the information of a service providing server, which
provides a media data service, to the media playing terminal at
step S150.
[0065] Therefore, the media playing terminal directly accesses the
service providing server on the basis of the information of the
service providing server provided at step S150, and is then
provided with the media data service.
[0066] Meanwhile, if it is determined at step S140 that the
conversion of media data is required based on the type of the media
playing terminal checked at step S130, the media sharing apparatus
performs a procedure after `A` in FIG. 4.
[0067] In detail, if the media playing terminal requires the
conversion of media data, the media sharing apparatus ascertains
media conversion information suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal on the basis of the profile information of the
media playing terminal, and performs a search to determine based on
the media conversion information whether media data suitable for
the type of the media playing terminal is present among pieces of
media data pre-stored in the storage unit 230 at step S200, as
shown in FIG. 4.
[0068] If found media data is present among the pieces of
pre-stored media data at step S210, the media sharing apparatus
provides the media data found at step S200 to the media playing
terminal at step S220.
[0069] In this case, since the media sharing apparatus can directly
provide the media data to the media playing terminal without
requiring a separate media data conversion procedure, the
conversion efficiency of media can be improved while the media
playing terminal can be promptly provided with the media data.
[0070] Meanwhile, if found media data is not present among the
pieces of pre-stored data at step S210, the media sharing apparatus
performs a procedure after `B` in FIG. 5.
[0071] In detail, if media data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal is not present among the pieces of pre-stored
media data, the media sharing apparatus converts the media data
into a type of data suitable for the type of the media playing
terminal, and provides the resulting data to the media playing
terminal.
[0072] In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the media sharing
apparatus extracts media conversion information suitable for the
type of the media playing terminal on the basis of the profile
information of the media playing terminal at step S300, and
verifies whether the extracted media conversion information is of a
type that is convertible by the media sharing apparatus.
[0073] The media sharing apparatus compares the attribute
information of the media playing terminal with the attribute
information of the media data, and then verifies whether the media
conversion information is of the type that is convertible by the
media sharing apparatus. In more detail, the media sharing
apparatus uses a comparison to determine whether the bandwidth,
frame rate and screen size of media data that is convertible by the
media sharing apparatus fall within the range supported by the
media playing terminal, and also uses a comparison to determine
whether there is an intersection between the attributes of the
media playing terminal and the media data, with respect to the
protocol, file format, encoder, decoder, and resolution.
[0074] If the media conversion information extracted at step S300
is of the type that is convertible by the media sharing apparatus
at step S310, the media sharing apparatus verifies whether source
media data is present therein at step S315. If it is verified that
the source media data is not present in the media sharing
apparatus, the media sharing apparatus requests the source media
data from the service providing server at step S320.
[0075] When the media data is received from the service providing
server at step S330, the media sharing apparatus converts the
received media data into data suitable for the type of the media
playing terminal on the basis of the media conversion information,
extracted at step S300, at step S340, and provides the converted
media data obtained at step S340 to the connected media playing
terminal at step S350.
[0076] Meanwhile, if it is verified at step S315 that source media
data is present in the media sharing apparatus, the media sharing
apparatus may also convert the media data stored in the media
sharing apparatus and provide the converted media data to the media
playing terminal by performing steps S340 and S350 using the source
media data.
[0077] In this case, step S340 is configured to convert video
attributes such as the file format, video codec, video mode, video
bit rate, video frame rate, video resolution and video ratio of the
media data, and audio attributes such as the audio codec, audio
sample rate, audio bit rate, and audio channel of the media data
into a type of attributes suitable for the media playing
terminal.
[0078] Meanwhile, if the media conversion information extracted at
step S300 is not of the type that is convertible by the media
sharing apparatus at step S310, the media sharing apparatus
generates a media transmission denial message and sends it to the
media playing terminal at step S360.
[0079] As described above, the present invention is advantageous in
that it enables previously converted media to be shared among
homogeneous terminals when converting the attributes of media, such
as a file format, a video codec, or an audio codec, to fit the
characteristics of a media playing terminal, thus providing a media
sharing service in which the conversion efficiency and use rate of
media data are optimized.
[0080] Further, the present invention is advantageous in that
previously converted media data can be directly provided to a media
playing terminal without requiring a separate conversion procedure,
thus enhancing the speed of provision of a media service.
[0081] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
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